It was the first of September, and Kings Cross Train
Station was crowded. Parents hurried along, clutching their children, who
were heading for another year at boarding school. Businessmen glanced at
their watches as they raced along, looking for the right platform.
Stationmasters and guards strolled around, offering assistance to those who
needed it. It was so busy, in fact, that not a single person noticed family
after family disappearing through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.
A young boy and an older girl hurried towards this barrier. The boy's stomach was full of butterflies, and his temper was rising. The girl wouldn't stop offering him unhelpful advice, and hissing instructions into his ear.
'You're to make sure you're put in Slytherin. Auntie says so.' She shrilled, as they reached the barrier. She shoved her cousin roughly through the barrier, onto Platform 9 3/4. 'And you're to make sure to make friends with the right people because-'
'Auntie says so', the boy finished, in an excellent imitation of the girl, 'just leave me alone Bellatrix, I can handle things myself.'
Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. 'Remember Sirius, you're a Black. Don't let the family down.'
'Wouldn't dream of it', Sirius replied sarcastically. Bellatrix glared at him, and pulled herself up to her full height. (which was still a few inches shorter than her Sirius) She was about to admonish him yet again, when a girl poked her head out the window of a carriage and shrieked 'Bella! What took you so long?'
'I'm coming, Narcissa! Now, d'you see what you've done? Narcissa went ahead to hold a carriage for us, and you've dawdled so long somebody else needs to share with us! Now come on. And remember, you're to get into Slytherin, like everyone else in the family.'
If there was one thing Sirius didn't want to do, it was be like everyone else in his family. 'I'd rather find a seat myself, Bellatrix.' He said firmly, 'I'd don't want everyone to think I get on with you two.' And he marched off, dragging his suitcase behind him, leaving Bellatrix looking stunned.
Sirius found an empty carriage at the very front of the the Hogwarts Express. He threw himself down on a seat and closed his eyes. He was going to Hogwarts at last! Finally, he would be able to spend a large portion of his life away from his parents and his brother. He could be a proper person, instead of having to behave in a certain way because he was a member of the Black family.
'Are these seats taken?' Sirius opened his eyes, and saw a boy with untidy black hair and glasses standing in the doorway, watching him.
'Er, no, they're free', he said quickly, smiling. The other boy grinned and stuck out his hand. 'James Potter', he introduced himself. Sirius shook his hand. 'I'm Sirius Black.'
James nodded. 'Slytherin for you then, eh?' He said, his smile fading a little, as he sat down opposite Sirius.
'No', Sirius replied, a little more agressively than he meant to, 'I mean, I really don't want to be in Slytherin. I'd like to be in Gryffindor.'
James' smile returned. 'So would I', he said, 'everyone in my family's been in Gryffindor-except for my great aunt, I think she was in Hufflepuff.'
They talked for a while about the subjects they would be studying. James got very enthusiastic when Sirius mentioned quidditch, and a long discussion on tactics ensued. They were interrupted by a polite knock on the carriage door. A fair-haired boy with a pleasant face poked his head around the door. ' 'Scuse me', he said, 'but is either of you Sirius Black?'
'I am', said Sirius, 'why?'
'Well, your cousin...Narcissa, I think her name is...said she wants to talk to you before the Sorting Ceremony.'
'Oh does she now?' Sirius thumped the seat beside him rather viciously. 'How do you know?'
The boy shrugged. 'I was heading for the bathroom, and she stuck her head out the carriage door and started yelling at me to find you.'
'Typical', Sirius sighed, 'Sorry about that. Tell Narcissa she can go and boil her head, 'cos I don't want to be in Slytherin, and I don't want to be a Black.'
The boy dropped his over-polite manner. 'Get lost', he said, raising an eyebrow, 'I'm not telling her that. She'll give me her lecture on how she's a prefect again.'
'Are you a first year too?' James asked interestedly.
'Yup. My name's Remus. Remus Lupin. Who're you?'
'James Potter. And that's Sirius Black.'
Remus nodded. 'I'd better go-still haven't gone to the bathroom.' And he disappeared.
'I'm going to be spending the year apologising for my relatives', Sirius said miserably, 'I just know it!'
They arrived at Hogwarts late that evening, and the first years were all ushered into a small room just off the Entrance Hall.
'I hear they take out your brain and study it, to decide what house you're in', said an unpleasant-looking boy, with greasy black hair and a hooked nose.
James snorted. 'That's rubbish!'
The greasy-haired boy spun around and glared at him. 'How would you know?' He sneered.
'Because my parents told me what they do!' James retorted, 'you just have to put on a hat. That's all!' The boy eyed him with a look of loathing. Both James and Sirius returned the glance. The argument was halted at that point, as a severe looking woman with jet-black hair swept back in a bun entered the room. 'Good evening, first years', she said loudly, 'my name is Professor MacGonagall. Now the Sorting Ceremony is very important. It will determine what house you will be in for the rest of your schooldays-what quidditch team you will play for, what house you will win points for, where you sleep, and who your classmates will be will all be revealed to you this evening. Now, follow me, please.'
The first years filed into the Great Hall. Hundreds of students stared up at them, whispering. The teachers on the platform behind them nodded pleasantly as they passed. Sirius swallowed hard. Professor MacGonagall set an ancient-looking grubby wizard's hat on a stool at the top of the line. There was complete silence in the Hall. Then suddenly, a rip at the hat's brim opened, and a voice began to sing:
Look at me closely, pupils dear
And tell me what you see
A tattered, grubby ancient hat,
One of a kind-that's me!
I'm here to look inside your brain
And see where your strength lies
I'm all-seeing, honest and truthful-
From me, you cannot hide.
Into Gryffindor you will go
If there is bravery in your heart
To Ravenclaw I'll soon send you
If I find you very smart
The cunning and the wily
I will pass to Slytherin
To Hufflepuff shall go the ones
Whose patience shall never wear thin.
Fear not! Be calm! I will not bite!
Just put me on and wait
I'll take a quick peek and then decide
Which house will be your fate!
There was a storm of clapping as the hat completed its song. Professor MacGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment, cleared her throat and said 'Appleby, Patrick.' A small boy with blond hair stumbled forwards, and jammed the hat onto his head. There was a moment of silence and then- 'HUFFLEPUFF!' Bellowed the hat. A table on the left cheered wildly, and Patrick hurried over to them.
'Black, Sirius.' Sirius's heart was in his mouth. He caught sight of Narcissa and Bellatrix staring wildly at him, as though willing him to be put in Slytherin. He steeled himself, and marched forwards. Tentatively, he placed the hat on his head, and sat down. He jumped, as a tiny voice began to speak. 'Hmmm...difficult one...oh, I do love the ones with a mixture in them! You're brave, no doubt about that, yes...generous, very clever, and a possibility of cunning...hmmm...Oh, I suppose we'll go with GRYFFINDOR!'
Sirius jumped up and threw the hat on the stool, beaming with delight. He saw Narcissa and Bellatrix glaring at him, but he couldn't care less. He bounded off the platform, and raced across the cheering Gryffindor table, where a tall, red-haired boy wearing a prefect badge made room for him. Sirius looked up at James, who gave him a thumbs up, grinning. Sirius didn't really notice much of the Sorting after that. He was quite pleased to see that Remus Lupin also got into Gryffindor, and delighted when James Potter placed the hat on his head and it roared 'GRYFFINDOR!' at once. He clapped James on the back, and they watched in satisfaction as 'Snape, Severus', the greasy-haired boy, was placed in Slytherin.
'Might've known', James commented, looking at Severus Snape with an expression of disgust. Sirius nodded, and clapped for 'Turner, Sally', as she was placed in Gryffindor too. And as he looked around the table at the other Gryffindors, he felt a surge of happiness and pride fill him. It looked like his first year was going to be a good one.
A young boy and an older girl hurried towards this barrier. The boy's stomach was full of butterflies, and his temper was rising. The girl wouldn't stop offering him unhelpful advice, and hissing instructions into his ear.
'You're to make sure you're put in Slytherin. Auntie says so.' She shrilled, as they reached the barrier. She shoved her cousin roughly through the barrier, onto Platform 9 3/4. 'And you're to make sure to make friends with the right people because-'
'Auntie says so', the boy finished, in an excellent imitation of the girl, 'just leave me alone Bellatrix, I can handle things myself.'
Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. 'Remember Sirius, you're a Black. Don't let the family down.'
'Wouldn't dream of it', Sirius replied sarcastically. Bellatrix glared at him, and pulled herself up to her full height. (which was still a few inches shorter than her Sirius) She was about to admonish him yet again, when a girl poked her head out the window of a carriage and shrieked 'Bella! What took you so long?'
'I'm coming, Narcissa! Now, d'you see what you've done? Narcissa went ahead to hold a carriage for us, and you've dawdled so long somebody else needs to share with us! Now come on. And remember, you're to get into Slytherin, like everyone else in the family.'
If there was one thing Sirius didn't want to do, it was be like everyone else in his family. 'I'd rather find a seat myself, Bellatrix.' He said firmly, 'I'd don't want everyone to think I get on with you two.' And he marched off, dragging his suitcase behind him, leaving Bellatrix looking stunned.
Sirius found an empty carriage at the very front of the the Hogwarts Express. He threw himself down on a seat and closed his eyes. He was going to Hogwarts at last! Finally, he would be able to spend a large portion of his life away from his parents and his brother. He could be a proper person, instead of having to behave in a certain way because he was a member of the Black family.
'Are these seats taken?' Sirius opened his eyes, and saw a boy with untidy black hair and glasses standing in the doorway, watching him.
'Er, no, they're free', he said quickly, smiling. The other boy grinned and stuck out his hand. 'James Potter', he introduced himself. Sirius shook his hand. 'I'm Sirius Black.'
James nodded. 'Slytherin for you then, eh?' He said, his smile fading a little, as he sat down opposite Sirius.
'No', Sirius replied, a little more agressively than he meant to, 'I mean, I really don't want to be in Slytherin. I'd like to be in Gryffindor.'
James' smile returned. 'So would I', he said, 'everyone in my family's been in Gryffindor-except for my great aunt, I think she was in Hufflepuff.'
They talked for a while about the subjects they would be studying. James got very enthusiastic when Sirius mentioned quidditch, and a long discussion on tactics ensued. They were interrupted by a polite knock on the carriage door. A fair-haired boy with a pleasant face poked his head around the door. ' 'Scuse me', he said, 'but is either of you Sirius Black?'
'I am', said Sirius, 'why?'
'Well, your cousin...Narcissa, I think her name is...said she wants to talk to you before the Sorting Ceremony.'
'Oh does she now?' Sirius thumped the seat beside him rather viciously. 'How do you know?'
The boy shrugged. 'I was heading for the bathroom, and she stuck her head out the carriage door and started yelling at me to find you.'
'Typical', Sirius sighed, 'Sorry about that. Tell Narcissa she can go and boil her head, 'cos I don't want to be in Slytherin, and I don't want to be a Black.'
The boy dropped his over-polite manner. 'Get lost', he said, raising an eyebrow, 'I'm not telling her that. She'll give me her lecture on how she's a prefect again.'
'Are you a first year too?' James asked interestedly.
'Yup. My name's Remus. Remus Lupin. Who're you?'
'James Potter. And that's Sirius Black.'
Remus nodded. 'I'd better go-still haven't gone to the bathroom.' And he disappeared.
'I'm going to be spending the year apologising for my relatives', Sirius said miserably, 'I just know it!'
They arrived at Hogwarts late that evening, and the first years were all ushered into a small room just off the Entrance Hall.
'I hear they take out your brain and study it, to decide what house you're in', said an unpleasant-looking boy, with greasy black hair and a hooked nose.
James snorted. 'That's rubbish!'
The greasy-haired boy spun around and glared at him. 'How would you know?' He sneered.
'Because my parents told me what they do!' James retorted, 'you just have to put on a hat. That's all!' The boy eyed him with a look of loathing. Both James and Sirius returned the glance. The argument was halted at that point, as a severe looking woman with jet-black hair swept back in a bun entered the room. 'Good evening, first years', she said loudly, 'my name is Professor MacGonagall. Now the Sorting Ceremony is very important. It will determine what house you will be in for the rest of your schooldays-what quidditch team you will play for, what house you will win points for, where you sleep, and who your classmates will be will all be revealed to you this evening. Now, follow me, please.'
The first years filed into the Great Hall. Hundreds of students stared up at them, whispering. The teachers on the platform behind them nodded pleasantly as they passed. Sirius swallowed hard. Professor MacGonagall set an ancient-looking grubby wizard's hat on a stool at the top of the line. There was complete silence in the Hall. Then suddenly, a rip at the hat's brim opened, and a voice began to sing:
Look at me closely, pupils dear
And tell me what you see
A tattered, grubby ancient hat,
One of a kind-that's me!
I'm here to look inside your brain
And see where your strength lies
I'm all-seeing, honest and truthful-
From me, you cannot hide.
Into Gryffindor you will go
If there is bravery in your heart
To Ravenclaw I'll soon send you
If I find you very smart
The cunning and the wily
I will pass to Slytherin
To Hufflepuff shall go the ones
Whose patience shall never wear thin.
Fear not! Be calm! I will not bite!
Just put me on and wait
I'll take a quick peek and then decide
Which house will be your fate!
There was a storm of clapping as the hat completed its song. Professor MacGonagall unrolled a scroll of parchment, cleared her throat and said 'Appleby, Patrick.' A small boy with blond hair stumbled forwards, and jammed the hat onto his head. There was a moment of silence and then- 'HUFFLEPUFF!' Bellowed the hat. A table on the left cheered wildly, and Patrick hurried over to them.
'Black, Sirius.' Sirius's heart was in his mouth. He caught sight of Narcissa and Bellatrix staring wildly at him, as though willing him to be put in Slytherin. He steeled himself, and marched forwards. Tentatively, he placed the hat on his head, and sat down. He jumped, as a tiny voice began to speak. 'Hmmm...difficult one...oh, I do love the ones with a mixture in them! You're brave, no doubt about that, yes...generous, very clever, and a possibility of cunning...hmmm...Oh, I suppose we'll go with GRYFFINDOR!'
Sirius jumped up and threw the hat on the stool, beaming with delight. He saw Narcissa and Bellatrix glaring at him, but he couldn't care less. He bounded off the platform, and raced across the cheering Gryffindor table, where a tall, red-haired boy wearing a prefect badge made room for him. Sirius looked up at James, who gave him a thumbs up, grinning. Sirius didn't really notice much of the Sorting after that. He was quite pleased to see that Remus Lupin also got into Gryffindor, and delighted when James Potter placed the hat on his head and it roared 'GRYFFINDOR!' at once. He clapped James on the back, and they watched in satisfaction as 'Snape, Severus', the greasy-haired boy, was placed in Slytherin.
'Might've known', James commented, looking at Severus Snape with an expression of disgust. Sirius nodded, and clapped for 'Turner, Sally', as she was placed in Gryffindor too. And as he looked around the table at the other Gryffindors, he felt a surge of happiness and pride fill him. It looked like his first year was going to be a good one.